April 2014 Newsletter - Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation
Transcription
April 2014 Newsletter - Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation
April 2014 Newsletter P.O. Box 5245, Naperville, Illinois 60567-5245 www.napervillehomeowners.com In This Issue City Council Meets the Confederation in April ..................................................................................................... 2 April is Fair Housing Month ................................................................................................................................ 2 Coming In May – NAHC Elections ...................................................................................................................... 3 Confederation Board Takes Position on SB 2658 ............................................................................................... 5 Naperville CARES Brings Cuisine for a Cause to Navistar .................................................................................. 5 Homeowner Water Quality Best Management Practices for Spring and Summer ................................................ 6 NAHC Briefs – News You Can Use! ................................................................................................................... 7 News from The Morton Arboretum.................................................................................................................... 13 ACTHA News................................................................................................................................................... 15 SCAM Alert – Protect Your Personal Information .............................................................................................. 15 School Notes from Districts 203 & 204 ............................................................................................................. 16 Do We Have Your Updated Contact Information? ............................................................................................. 18 News from Naper Settlement ........................................................................................................................... 19 Park District Updates ....................................................................................................................................... 20 Library News .................................................................................................................................................... 23 The NAHC newsletter is published monthly to provide the news and information Naperville homeowners n eed. We welcome and appreciate your feedback. Send it to our Newsletter Editor at rafischer1@aol.com. President’s Letter April is a great month. There is hope that Winter is finally in the rear view mirror, baseball season begins in earnest, bare tree branches bud, and flowers start poking out of the ground. All of these are in a bit of jeopardy as I write this, though, as the cold weather is not loosening its grip. It has to stop snowing eventually, right? For the Homeowners Confederation, April is the one time every year when we invite City Council members to sit at the head table during our monthly meeting. We ask that they openly discuss what is on their minds, answer member questions, and engage in a dialogue without the barriers of the Council dais or council rules. This annual informal get together, based on mutual respect and courtesy, is one of the great things about the relationship between the City and Confederation. With Easter falling on our normal meeting weekend, we moved the meeting to a weeknight, Monday, April 21st. Networking begins at 6:30 PM and the meeting runs from 7 until 8:30. The meeting location for this month is changing, too. We will be at the 95th Street Library and our Vice President, Mike Reilly, promises directions and passport validation to any and all Naperville northsiders making the trek into Will County! April is also when we seek out new voting members for our Board of Directors. Four open seats are up for election this year including Secretary, Treasurer, and 2 Directors At-Large. Together with Immediate Past President Dr. Bob Buckman and Vice President Reilly, I am working on putting a slate of candidates together for election at the May annual meeting. If interested in being part of our Board, please reach out to any of the three of us. More details on the Board roles, duties, and the election process are in this month’s newsletter. We will announce the proposed slate at the April meeting. I hope you enjoy this newsletter and share at least some of the content within your associations. We try to provide news and information that is relevant, actionable, and of interest to our members and their neighborhoods. Let me know if you have any suggestions for making the newsletter better. Think Spring! bob Bob Fischer President, Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation rafischer1@aol.com 1 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. City Council Meets the Confederation in April Your next NAHC Monthly meeting will be Monday evening, April 21st at 6:30 PM (for snacks and networking) at the 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr. This month, we will be joined by members of City Council, off the dais, for an informal discussion of things important to those of us who call Naperville home We will also announce a proposed slate of candidates for election to our Board at the May annual meeting and address other Confederation business as appropriate. Snacks and networking, sponsored by The Care of Trees, is at 6:30 PM. The Care of Trees (www.thecareoftrees.com) is an award-winning, client-focused firm that focuses on organic and sustainable tree care. Along with providing the full range of tree care services for residential, commercial, institutional and municipal clients, The Care of Trees specializes in preserving trees in land developments. It has more than 15 locations serving metropolitan Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C. The Care of Trees has earned the TCIA Accreditation and is a multi-year honor roll member of Companies That Care.. Keep an eye on www.napervillehomeowners.com for updates on the meeting. We are looking forward to seeing everyone on the 21st! Remember, snacks and networking begins at 6:30 PM, the meeting starts at 7, and we promise to have everyone on their way by 8:30! April is Fair Housing Month April has been designated as Fair Housing Month to help celebrate the passage of the 1968 Federal Fair Housing Act and the protections offered under the Illinois Human Rights Act. Naperville’s Fair Housing Advisory Commission (FHAC) will host two information sessions to inform the public about its role in the community, provide examples of housing discrimination and discuss how individuals can file a complaint regarding discriminatory practices. The sessions will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 and noon on Wednesday, April 16. Both will take place in the Community Room at Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville. The commission is providing these sessions to raise awareness about fair housing practices as well as inform the public of what to do if they feel they are being discriminated against by a landlord, property manager, real estate agent, home loan officer, housing developer, or insurance agent regarding a housing related transaction. 2 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. Naperville’s Fair Housing Advisory Commission plays an important role in discouraging illegal and unethical housing practices by promoting and encouraging fair housing to all. The commission ensures that all people have a fair and equal opportunity to purchase, own, lease or occupy housing within the City of Naperville without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, familial status, physical or mental handicap or disability, military status, sexual orientation or legal source of income. The commission also hears complaints regarding those who feel they are discriminated against. In addition to federal and state fair housing guidelines, the City of Naperville also has its own ordinance (Title 10, Chapter 5) that promotes and encourages fair housing for all without discrimination? Are you unsure if you are being discriminated against? Consult some examples by visiting www.naperville.il.us/fhac.aspx. You can also fill out the posted complaint form if necessary. . Coming In May – NAHC Elections In accordance with our bylaws, the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation will hold elections at the Confederation Annual Meeting, scheduled for Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 8:30 AM in Meeting Rooms B&C of the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street, Naperville, Illinois. The offices to be voted on are Secretary of the Confederation (currently John Mesarchik); Treasurer (currently Boyd Briscoe); and two at large Director Positions (currently held by Tom Harris and Kathy Benson). Only Boyd Briscoe is eligible to run again for his current position and he has asked to be removed from consideration. 3 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. A nominating committee was formed at the March 22nd General Meeting consisting of Mike Reilly, Dr. Bob Buckman, and Bob Fischer. They will prepare a slate of recommended candidates to be announced at the April meeting and persons interested in a board position should contact one of them to express their interest. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor the day of the annual meeting. Any person who, at the time of the election, is a member of a homeowners association which is a Confederation member in good standing or an associate member in good standing may seek and hold office on the Confederation Board of Directors; except that there shall be no more than one Confederation Officer or a total of two Confederation Board of Directors members from any one Confederation member association or no more than two associate members as voting members of the Board. Duties of the positions to be elected are as follows: Secretary - shall keep the current minutes of all Confederation Board of Directors meetings; shall present a written report of the Confederation’s previous year’s activities at the Annual Meeting; and shall be responsible for all correspondence related to the business of the Confederation. The Confederation Board of Directors shall approve all material correspondence relating to the business of the Confederation and the Confederation Board of Directors. The Secretary shall also keep current a list of Member associations and persons to contact, and shall maintain duplicate copies of the corporate records. The Secretary shall be responsible for all communications with Member associations or others as the President or the Board of Directors direct. Treasurer – shall collect and receive all monies and assessments and deposit them to the credit of the Confederation in a bank approved by the Confederation Board of Directors; shall render a statement of accounts to the Confederation Board of Directors and to the Confederation membership At regular meetings; shall issue receipts for assessments upon request; shall challenge the right to vote of any Confederation member not in good standing at the time of any vote by reason of being in arrears in payments of assessments; shall present a financial report in writing at the Annual Meeting; and shall keep a list of all Confederation members currently in good standing. The Treasurer shall be responsible for preparing the annual budget, to be approved by the Confederation members at the November meeting of each year. The Treasurer shall disburse funds that are included in the budget line items upon presentation of adequate documentation for such items. At-Large Board Members – shall be chairpersons of Ad Hoc Committees of the Confederation as formed at the discretion of the BOD. They shall be eligible to assume the terms and duties of Confederation officers, if such officers resign, refuse, become ineligible, or are otherwise unavailable to fulfill their terms. At-Large Board Members shall be empowered to vote in all decisions of the BOD. If any elected Director is not able for any reason to complete a term of office, the BOD may appoint an Associate Director to serve as a Director until the next annual election and any individual so appointed shall be empowered to serve and perform their duties upon appointment. All member associations in good standing are eligible to cast a vote in this election. To be considered in good standing, member associations are to be current in their annual dues. Other information on the conduct of the elections, or on membership status of associations or voting rights of associate members, can be found in the Confederation Bylaws which are posted at: http://www.napervillehomeowners.com/NAHC/NewsDoc/NewsDoc8119.pdf . If you are interested in serving on the Confederation Board, please contact our President, Bob Fischer. Vice President, Mike Reilly, or Immediate Past President Dr. Bob Buckman. If your association or Board would like to learn more about the NAHC, a Board member will be happy to attend one of your meetings to update your neighborhood on what the NAHC can and does do for you. Contact us at nahc-naperhomeowners@wowway.com to schedule a presentation! 4 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. Confederation Board Takes Position on SB 2658 Currently under consideration in the State Capitol is SB 2658, introduced by 21 st District Senator Mike Connelly. This legislation will amend the uses for which Motor Fuel Tax Funds can be used by adding the ability to not just remove, but also to treat ash trees impacted by the Emerald Ash Borer. The Confederation has been in the forefront of local efforts to treat ash trees, and not just cut them down, and we have contacted area senators and asked them to support this legislation. Skeet, a certified arborist with the Care of Trees and also an Associate Director of the Confederation, recently testified in a legislative hearing in support of this bill. The average cost to remove an ash tree from parkways is over $1,000. Naperville has been treating their ash trees for several years with a success rate of over 90% and an annual cost per tree of less than $30. It makes sense to use these tax dollars for treatment, if only to spread the cost of tree removal over multiple years and maintain our green parkway canopy while replacement trees have an opportunity to mature. As the bill proceeds through the legislative process, the Confederation will also reach out to area representatives seeking their support. The Confederation Board stand was announced at the March 22nd General Meeting and, if appropriate, we may request the membership to approve our support as a Confederation Stand during the April 21 st meeting. Naperville CARES Brings Cuisine for a Cause to Navistar Naperville CARES invites the community to a fundraising event featuring tastings from over 20 of the best Naperville area restaurants. The 11th Annual Cuisine for a Cause, a benefit for Naperville CARES, will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 6:30-10:30 p.m. at our new location, Navistar Corporate Headquarters. Event sponsorships range from $300 to $5,000 and include reserved seating. Individual tickets are offered for open seating. The ticket price includes food, drink and entertainment, and can be purchased online at www.napervillecares.org or by calling the CARES office at (630) 369-0200. Cuisine for a Cause will feature samples of signature dishes from over 20 prominent Naperville area restaurants, live entertainment, open bar, wine and beer tasting, and auctions. Keith Jones, of Sayre & Jones Auctioneers, will again bring his unique style to the event ensuring a fun and lively auction. donating auction items may Cuisineforacause@outlook.com. call Sponsorship opportunities are still available at multiple levels ranging from Platinum at $5,000 to Friend of CARES Sponsorships at $300. Anyone interested in participating in Cuisine for a Cause as a sponsor please contact Janet Derrick at 630-369-0200 or email her at jderrick@napervillecares.org. Those interested in Shannon Bachara at 847-961-8762 or email 5 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. Homeowner Water Quality Best Management Practices for Spring and Summer DuPage County Stormwater Management encourages residents to be mindful of water quality this spring. Property owners may consider practicing natural lawn care and implementing green infrastructure projects to reduce pollutants reaching waterways. Commonly referred to as nonpoint source pollutants, these contaminants include fertilizer and pesticides, car oils, pet waste and litter. Once mixed in with stormwater runoff, they drain directly to streams and storm sewers off impervious surfaces, such as roadways, sidewalks and roofs. Spring is a time when many property owners begin thinking about lawn care and home improvement projects. If done properly, normal routines and maintenance can improve the quality of waterways by minimizing pollutants in stormwater runoff. Springs BMPs Spring is a time to begin thinking about lawn care and home improvement projects. If done properly, your normal routines and maintenance can actually improve the quality of waterways by minimizing pollutants in stormwater runoff. Natural lawn care practices can begin in the spring with an inexpensive soil test to determine what—if any—nutrients your lawn needs. In addition, spring is the time to get in the habit of allowing your grass to grow 3 inches before mowing. This improves its health by allowing roots to grow longer, also helping to remove pollutants from runoff. Spring is also an excellent time to begin thinking about growing gardens, specifically rain gardens with deep-rooted native plants to filter pollutants from stormwater runoff. Rainwater harvesting is also a popular technique to capture and store stormwater for later use, such as lawn irrigation. This can be accomplished with a simple rain barrel or an intricate underground system. Remember: Use a simple and inexpensive soil test to determine what – if any – nutrients are needed. If nutrients are necessary, use natural compost instead of traditional fertilizer. Consider composting lawn clippings, leaves and other natural materials. Eliminate pesticide use by hand pulling any weeds. Allow grass to grow up to three inches before mowing, which improves its health by allowing roots to grow longer. These longer roots will also help remove pollutants from stormwater runoff. Summer BMPs It’s important to begin a natural lawn care regimen in the spring because your habits will carry into summer. Now that you’ve tested your soil in the spring, you can begin naturally fertilizing as needed. If your soil lacks nutrients, consider using compost instead of a harmful fertilizer. Eliminate pesticide use by hand pulling any weeds. Although you’re not mowing as often, summer is also a great time to begin composting lawn clippings, leaves and other natural materials. In addition, after spring showers, many homeowners may consider repaving their driveways. Permeable pavers and porous concrete are always the best option to clean water and prevent localized flooding. Porous surfaces allow stormwater runoff to permeate through, which keeps the polluted runoff out of storm sewers and streams. If this isn’t an option for you, try to avoid coal tar-based sealants, which can be toxic to surrounding plants, groundwater and humans. Remember: Install a rain garden with deep-rooted native plants to filter pollutants from stormwater runoff. Use a rain barrel or larger rainwater harvesting system to capture rainwater for reuse, such as lawn irrigation. 6 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. Instead of repaving driveways, consider installing permeable pavers or porous concrete that allows stormwater to permeate through instead of running off. Speaking of rain barrels, the City of Naperville and the Naperville Park District are partnering with The Conservation Foundation to offer 55-gallon rain barrels for sale from now through Thursday, April 24, 2014. Pick-up for the barrels will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at the Naperville Park District South Maintenance Facility from 8 a.m. until noon The sale also includes a variety of other related products including accessories, compost bins, flower boxes and bird houses. The 55-gallon rain barrels are made from high-density plastic and were previously used for shipping pickled food overseas. They will be sold for $58.50 each if picked up or for $63.50 with home delivery. Pick-up orders will be taken through April 24 via a third party vendor, Upcycle Products, at the following link:http://upcyclerainbarrel.com/static.asp?path=5231. NAHC Briefs – News You Can Use! These past few years the only thing we can count on from the weather is that it will be crazy. Let's not leave our water supply to chance - rainwater is a precious resource! Come learn how to collect and keep it on your property through the use of rain barrels and rain gardens at a Water Conservation Workshop on Sunday, April 6th, Noon to 2pm, in the Clow Education Center at The Conservation Foundation's McDonald Farm, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd., Naperville. This workshop will include a Noon presentation on how rain barrels and rain gardens work and how to install them to capture the rain that falls on your land and put it to good use. Our rain barrels, which are repurposed, recycled and recyclable and equipped with spigots, screens and overflow valves, will be available for purchase for $75 each. At 1pm, enjoy an educational tour of the 60-acre McDonald Farm, a showplace of conservation in action and headquarters of The Conservation 7 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. Foundation. See on-the-ground examples of rain and butterfly gardens, rainwater harvesting, solar and wind energy, permeable paving and native plants. These earth-friendly practices improve our local water quality, increase habitat for bird and butterfly species, and provide beauty and opportunities for our families to connect with nature right in our own back yards. Learn how to transform your little patch of earth and become part of The Conservation Foundation's Conservation@Home program, which recognizes homeowners for environmentally responsible landscaping efforts. This workshop is free and registration is not required. -0REGISTER NOW FOR NAPERVILLE CITIZENS ACADEMY - Naperville residents once again have the opportunity to learn about the City’s form of government, department operations and City services by participating in the annual Naperville Citizens Academy. This free, 11-week program is designed to give residents hands-on experience and unique insight into the City of Naperville. Classes will meet weekly from 6:30 to 9 p.m. beginning Thursday, April 24. Each week, participants will learn about the many aspects of local government through informative and interactive sessions with elected officials, department directors and representatives from Naper Settlement, the Naperville Public Library and the Naperville Park District. The program will culminate in a graduation ceremony officiated by Mayor A. George Pradel and the City Council. Space in the program is limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To inquire about registration, contact Communications Assistant Janice Bradley at (630) 420-6707. For more information, visit www.naperville.il.us/citizensacademy.aspx. -0Homeowners, Don't Be An April Fool...Get Answers To Your Association Questions on April 1. There is no such thing as a stupid question, right? Then why do we have questions that make us feel foolish? This is your chance to submit your questions in advance of the seminar and have your topic discussed without anyone knowing who submitted the question. No joke! We are hosting this seminar on April Fool's Day to answer your questions! Can't think of a question right now, but want to attend? No problem, register and hear the answers to other people's questions. The attorneys from Keough & Moody, P.C. will also have some content to share regarding important information that seems to be overlooked by managers and board members all too often.. Don't be a fool, register today at: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=gyjn4vdab&oeidk=a07e92wx71m127147a4 -0Naperville Community Television captured the excitement of the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation's 25th Anniversary Celebration at Wentz Hall. The evening featured outstanding musical performances from all three nationally acclaimed high schools and inspirational stories from students and alumni. DVDs of this special performance are available for purchase online. NCTV17 is donating 25% of all DVD sales to the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation. -0Naperville Municipal Band’s spring concert, “Invitation to the Dance,” will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 27 at Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave. on the campus of North Central College in Naperville. Put on your dancing shoes as you’ll be tapping your toes to a great selection of music that highlights dances through the ages including the waltz, polka, tango, samba, jitterbug, two-step and more. Admission is free. Musical selections include dances from “Fiddler on the Roof,” a Glenn Miller medley, Strauss waltzes, a Jamaican folk suite and of course, Sousa.For more information, visit http://www.napervilleband.org or call (630) 778-9994 -0- 8 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. The City of Naperville is pleased to announce that Rachel Mayer, the former Finance Director for the City of Joliet, is Naperville’s new finance director. Mayer, who will be responsible for Naperville’s total budget of $436 million, was selected from more than 200 applicants. Prior to serving as Finance Director for the City of Joliet, Mayer served as a Capital Budget Manager for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and a Budget Analyst for the Illinois Bureau of the Budget/Office of the Governor. She also served as a Senior Accountant for the American Society for Clinical Pathology and a Risk Advisory Associate for KPMG, LLP. Mayer holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting from Saint Xavier University and is also a Certified Public Accountant. -0Naperville Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Opens Registration for Class Learn what to do… prior to, during and after a major emergency or disaster. Free classes begin April 16 and continue the next 3 Wednesday evenings, 6:45-9:45pm, with final exercises Saturday May 10, from 8am-2:45pm. Wednesday classes held at Electrical Service Center. Final Exercise will be held at Fire Station 4. Naperville residents and those working in Naperville should go to, http://www.NaperCERT.org for more info or to sign up. Registration is required. -0The Master Gardener Help Line has resumed office hours. The DuPage County Master Gardeners are available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon at 630-955-1123. Beginning in May, the Help Desk will resume full hours from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Or, questions may be sent via email to uiemg-dupage@illinois.edu. -0Now is the time to control costs, reduce energy use and stay comfortable with a new highefficiency furnace and programmable thermostat. Receive cash rebates of up to $420 to help you make the switch! More details are at http://nicorgasrebates.com/index.php/heer/rebate/warm. -07 Days of Fitness Boot Camp to benefit Naperville CARES - Victory Martial Arts Naperville will hold one full week of their exclusive martial arts fitness boot camp from April 7 - 13 to benefit Naperville CARES. "Your 7 Day Fitness Breakthrough Boot Camp" will incorporate elements from kick boxing to cross fit style training to create a class that is exciting, fun and gets results. Donation is $15 for the entire week. Attend as many classes as you would like. Drop-ins are welcome or register online at www.Go4martialarts.com. -0The Illinois Math & Science Academy (IMSA) is seeking Illinois students to apply for its SEAMS (Summer Enrichment for Academics in Mathematics and Science) residential program, which teaches advanced math and science concepts through hands-on learning experiences to students who otherwise may not have the opportunity to learn in an intellectually stimulating and supportive environment. Recent programs have helped students develop talent, interest, and motivation for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning through lessons that feature catapults, slimy polymers, rockets, and CO2 powered race cars. The two week live-in program’s curriculum utilizes group inquiry and problem solving in ways that are designed to 9 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. improve students' math, science, and English skills. SEAMS has only a nominal fee for the ten day program ($50) which has served as a catalyst for students who are interested in STEM, but might not have had opportunities to explore their passions. Students participating in the SEAMS program live in IMSA residence halls, study in the academic building, and take trips to places like museums and forensic labs. Students’ experiences in many ways simulate the experience of an enrolled IMSA student, focusing on interpersonal skill development. “The SEAMS program is an incredible opportunity for underrepresented students to be immersed in IMSA’s intellectual environment, experience hands-on STEM learning, and see what life is like for our students,” said Admissions Counselor Quintin Backstrom. “The feedback we receive from this program is tremendous, not to mention there is almost no cost associated with it – there is nothing else like it in Illinois.” The SEAMS program is held on IMSA’s campus in Aurora, beginning Sunday, June 15, 2014 and ending on Wednesday, June 25, 2014. The deadline for SEAMS’s competitive application process is April 30, 2014. For application and program information, contact the IMSA Office of Admissions at 630-907-5028 or reach them by e-mail at diversity@imsa.edu. The application also can be downloaded at https://www.imsa.edu/admissions/multicultural/multiculturalPrograms. -0The City of Naperville is offering financial assistance to residents who meet lowto moderate-income guidelines participating in the City’s Sanitary Sewer Backflow Prevention Device Program. The Sanitary Sewer Backflow Prevention Device Program is an extension of ongoing efforts to reduce frequency and severity of sanitary surcharges. The program is open to anyone living in the City of Naperville who has experienced a sanitary sewer backup caused by an intense rainfall event or surcharged sanitary sewer system. The initiative allows property owners to install the backflow prevention device of their choice with the City reimbursing the property owner 75 percent of the cost. Using $60,000 funds from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, the City will help eligible residents who meet low-to moderate-income guidelines by paying the remaining 25 percent of the project cost. The funds will be available beginning Tuesday, April 1 and will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Before applying for financial assistance, residents interested in the Sanitary Sewer Backflow Prevention Device Program must be pre-approved by the Department of Public Utilities – Water to participate in the program. For more information on the program and financial assistance offered, visit www.naperville.il.us/backflowprevent.aspx. Those interested in the Sanitary Sewer Backflow Prevention Device Program can also contact Tony Conn, program administrator, at connt@naperville.il.us or (630) 305-5537. 10 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. Property owners pre-approved for participation in the Sanitary Sewer Backflow Prevention Device Program will be required to obtain three written quotes in which the City will pre-authorize one of the quotes for work to be performed. The property owner is responsible for scheduling the work and paying the contractor for all associated installation work and restoration costs. Upon completion of the work, the property owner must submit proof of payment to the City before the City will reimburse 75 percent of the agreed quote. Backflow prevention devices under this program are to address sanitary sewer back-ups only, not stormwater or sump pump-related backups, where water has entered the basement through foundation cracks, window wells, doors or as a result of an overwhelmed or failed sump pump. There is no deadline to enter the program. Reimbursements will be made at a first-come, first-served basis. -0The Kennedy Junior High Math Team took First Place in the state MATHCOUNTS competition March 8 and two Kennedy students will head to the national competition in May. The two students, Nicky Sun and Allen Chen, will advance as part of the Illinois team to the national competition May 8-11 in Orlando. They qualified by scoring in the top four on individual written rounds. The Kennedy team captured First Place out of 62 schools in the state contest, besting Whitney Young Academic Center (2nd) and University of Chicago Lab School (3 rd). The team was made up of four students: Allen Chen, Nicky Sun, Melissa Mu and Howie Guo and alternate Albert Lu. In addition, the school brought two individual competitors: Karen Ge and Jason Xia. The group competed as individuals against 270 students from across the state The two national contenders will join two others students – one from Daniel Wright Jr. High School and the other from the U of C Lab School – to represent Illinois. Coach of the Kennedy team and the state team is Kennedy teacher Suzanne Croco. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL! -0Naperville's Sister Cities Commission is encouraging young artists to submit their artwork into the 2014 Young Artists Showcase competition. Entries are due by Thursday, April 17, with an awards ceremony planned for 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 26 in the lobby at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St. This year's contest theme is "Connect globally. Thrive locally." Entrants are asked to use artwork to express how global connectivity allows an individual or community to thrive locally and how this connectivity has impacted the artist for the better. The Young Artists Showcase is open to Naperville residents as well as Naperville Community Unit School District 203 and Indian Prairie School District 204 students between 13 and 18 years of age by April 30, 2014. The deadline for entries is Thursday, April 17 at 4 p.m. All completed artwork and entry paperwork should be brought to the Mayor's Office at the Naperville Municipal Center between 1 and 4 p.m. April 14-17. For more information, visit www.naperville.il.us/sccyashowcase.aspx. One finalist and four semifinalists will receive awards at the April 26 awards ceremony, with the finalist having his or her artwork submitted to Sister Cities International for national, and potentially international, recognition. For more information on the Sister Cities Commission, visit www.naperville.il.us/sistercities.aspx -0Mark your calendar DuPage County Sustainable Design Challenge - Tuesday, April 8, 2014, 8:30 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. - Students from DuPage County high schools will display their sustainable building design projects to the public at the eighth annual Sustainable Design Challenge for high school students, held in DuPage County's JTK Administration Building (421 N. County Farm Rd., Wheaton). Students will present models of their designs, while explaining their research and the design elements that 11 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. make their building “green.” Created by SCARCE, the Challenge is a collaborative effort between SCARCE and Stormwater Management. Age Well DuPage™ on April 6, 2014 at College of DuPage, Homeland Security Education Center (HEC), Room 1022, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. An event for residents 50 years of age and older, and family caregivers. Come and experience the services and opportunities available in DuPage County for a full life at any age. Co-Sponsored by DuPage County Senior Services and College of DuPage Continuing Education, this joint endeavor will prepare attendees for aging well in body, mind and spirit, by renewing, recharging and reinventing themselves. Also promoting MoneySmart Week, an initiative of the Federal Reserve, with sessions focusing on financial literacy. More details are at http://www.dupageco.org/seniorsvcs/ Easter Bunny & Hop Around the Shops! In Downtown Naperville April 18 – 20. Come downtown over Easter weekend and hop around the shops and enjoy great Easter weekend sales all over town. The Easter Bunny will hop into town on both Friday & Saturday (April 18-19) from 11am 2pm and take free photos with kids. Get free 4 x 6 photos compliments of the downtown Walgreen's store. (Bunny photo locations to be announced). Naperville CARES invites the community to a fundraising event featuring samples of signature dishes from over 20 of the best Naperville area restaurants, wine and beer tastings, live entertainment and auctions. The 11th Annual Cuisine for a Cause, a benefit for Naperville CARES, will be held at our new location Navistar Corporate Headquarters at 2701 Navistar Dr. on Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Event sponsorships range from $300 to $5,000 and include reserved seating. Individual tickets are offered for open seating at $90 per person before March 31st or $100 per person after March 31st. The ticket price includes food, drink and entertainment, and can be purchased online at www.napervillecares.org or by calling the CARES office at (630) 369-0200. The event is made possible by a partnership with My Chef Catering and is presented by Invesco and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Charitable Foundation. The Interact Community Service Club of Neuqua Valley High School and Rotary Club of Naperville South will be hosting its Annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, April 26th at Neuqua Valley High School, 2360 95th Street, Naperville. Event will run from 8 AM until 11 AM. Proceeds from the breakfast will benefit Loaves and Fishes and Shelter Box as well as other local and international causes. District 204 Music Department students will provide entertainment. Other activities and entertainment for children will also be provided. Cost is $5 for an individual meal and the entire family can eat for only $15. For more information call Dan Richardson at 630-546-6804. Loaves and Fishes News Signs of the Times – Loaves & Fishes, in cooperation with the National Association of Letter Carriers 1151, is looking for subdivisions that will allow us to place lawn signs in support of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive at their entrances. A national drive in its 22nd year, the Naperville post office earmarks all donations placed at residents’ mailboxes on Saturday, May 10th to Loaves & Fishes. The nonperishable food and paper goods helps us to assist families throughout Naperville and DuPage County. We would like to place signs at subdivision entrances no later than mid-April to raise awareness. Stamp Out Hunger is one of our largest drives of the year. Loaves & Fishes would accept responsibility for installing and removing all signs, with the permission of the homeowners association. Please contact Jody Bender, Director of Community Engagement at Loaves & Fishes, at jbender@loavesfishes.org or 630-355-3663, ext. 111 for more information. Thank you so much for your consideration! 12 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. As the need for its services continues to grow, Loaves & Fishes will take a more proactive approach in helping clients become empowered and self-sufficient. Volunteers will Share the Joy through the Smart Check program, which encourages healthy food choices during distribution, while also connecting clients to the Pathways to Empowerment programs to help them overcome their barriers to self-sufficiency. Loaves and Fishes distributes over 60,000 pounds of groceries every week. Food donations are accepted at the Loaves & Fishes location (1871 High Grove Lane, Naperville, IL 60540) during all regular business hours; Monday thru Thursday, 8 AM to 5 PM; Friday from 8 AM until 2 PM; and Saturdays from 8 AM until noon. Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry also has a wish list of select items on Amazon.com. Your purchases can be shipped directly to the pantry warehouse! For more information go to: http://www.loaves-fishes.org News from The Morton Arboretum Trees and Symphony: Back together again! The worldrenowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra is returning to play a series of outdoor concerts at the Arboretum on June 26, 27, and 28. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs. You are welcome to bring your own food, but we do not allow any outside alcoholic beverages to be brought into the Arboretum. Food and alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase on site. Visit mortonarb.org/cso for more information. Thursday, June 26, at 7:30 p.m. - A Summer Night on the Red Carpet - Conductor Richard Kaufman leads the CSO in a program of excerpts from Academy Award-nominated films, including Mary Poppins, Gone with the Wind, Out of Africa, and many more. Friday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m. - Tchaikovsky and Beethoven - Conductor Cristian Macelaru leads the CSO in a program that features masterworks from the familiar classical repertoire. The performance includes Mendelssohn’s The Hebrides Overture, Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. Saturday, June 28, at 7:30 p.m. - Dvořák’s New World Symphony - Conductor Cristian Macelaru leads the CSO in a program which begins with Brahms’ Hungarian Dances Nos. 17-21, and continues with violinist Elena Urioste as soloist in Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1. Dvořák’s famous Symphony No.9 (From the New World) completes the program. Pricing: June 26: $45 per person June 27 & June 28: $40 per person $10 parking per vehicle per night- paid at entry (free for Arboretum members) Arboretum members receive SPECIAL ticket prices of $35 for all concerts. Please note there is a $5 per ticket processing fee. Purchase tickets at cso.org/morton or phone the CSO ticketing office at 312-294-3000. If you are an Arboretum member, use promo code MORTONMEM at check-out to receive your member discount. What invasive pests affect the many evergreens in our neighborhoods and woodlands? How much of an invasive threat is the Callery pear, one of the most popular flowering trees in city streets and home landscapes? How can we breed attractive and ornamental trees that will be sterile and therefore not invasive? These and other topics will be addressed at the third annual Morton Arboretum Invasive Species Workshop May 15 in Lisle, Illinois. This conference is aimed at municipal officials, arborists, conservation and restoration professionals and volunteers, landscape contractors, and other who must grapple with invasive species in Northern Illinois and the surrounding region. For more details and to register go to http://www.mortonarb.org/courses/invasive-issues-trees 13 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. 14 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. ACTHA News ACTHA News http://www.actha.org Legislative alert: Community association owners and leaders have some serious legislation pending. Below are several items that ALL community association owners and involved professionals need to be aware of SB 2664 (Haine) was reported out of committee and is now up for a vote in the Senate. While this bill lengthens the collection period from 6 to 9 months in foreclosure actions, it eliminates an association from collecting anything other than assessments. NO special assessments, no late fees, no attorney fees. HB 4154 (Kifowit) has an amendment that mandates non-condos to allow payment plans for owner assessments. Obviously if every owner decides to take advantage of this, it would have serious consequences for the association as a whole. Finally the office had some inquiries as to why ACTHA was supporting HB 4204 (Nekritz) creating an Ombudsman's Office. Please be advised that an amendment will be introduced substantially changing the original bill. For the most part, ACTHA feels the changes warrant support of this concept. ACTHA's SPRING CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW is Saturday April 12, 2014 from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM CDT at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace FREE Trade Show with 100+ exhibitors, FREE parking and FREE breakfast. Full conference access includes entry to any of 9 educational seminars, an Ask an Attorney Panel and banquet lunch. This event hosts 9 different educational seminars for board members, owners and managers Ask an Attorney Panel Morning trade show (8 - 11:30 a.m.) FREE FREE parking and FREE breakfast FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON SEMINAR TOPICS, TIMES, PRESENTERS, EXHIBITORS, click here .For more information contact Gael Mennecke, 312-987-1906 or gael@actha.org SCAM Alert – Protect Your Personal Information The Naperville Police Department continues to receive a significant number of complaints from residents who have been the victims of phone and email scams. The subjects placing these calls or send emails may claim to represent various government agencies, Commonwealth Edison, Pay Day Loans or Dish Network and assert that the victims owe back taxes or have some other non-existent financial obligation. Many of these calls threaten the victim with arrest, large fines, disconnection of services and in some instances, revocation of immigration status and deportation if the victim does not provide either a credit card number or other banking information to immediately settle the debt. In recent weeks, the City has also been made aware of customers receiving utility account “past due” phone calls from a phone number in area code 818. These calls are not from the City. Calls from the City 15 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. regarding utility accounts will show up on caller IDs as “City of Naperville” and almost always show the number (630) 420-6059. The City does not make any calls from an 800 number requesting payments for utility services. Senior citizens have also been targeted recently by so-called “grandchild scams.” In these scams, the victim receives a phone call from a “grandchild” who claims to have been arrested and requests the victim to forward funds, usually via a money transfer company, to pay for bail and/or their fine. Residents should always confirm the validity of any such information with family members prior to complying with the requests made by the caller. In yet another common scam, residents have been called by individuals claiming to be representatives of Microsoft or other computer-related firms claiming to have remotely scanned the victim’s computer. The caller claims to have identified viruses on the victim’s computer and offers to sell the victim software and/or a monitoring program. Anyone receiving such calls or emails should never provide the caller with any personal or banking information. School Notes from Districts 203 & 204 The role of the school librarian has changed. There has been a general shift in the way people – including students – consumer literature and content. No one knows that better than Josh Mika, LRC director at Beebe School. He was selected to participate in the prestigious ILEAD U (Illinois Librarians Explore, Apply and Discover) program, a year-long initiative via the Illinois State Library. Dr. Mika will serve as an instructor, helping library staff throughout the state in brainstorming and developing cutting edge uses for libraries. Exactly what that role of school libraries – and public libraries -- look like in the future is open to debate. The ILEAD U program helps in determining that future. -0District 204 is joining teachers, parents, and middle and high school students across Illinois to participate in the Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey was designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child's school from the perspective of teachers, parents, and students. As a parent, your voice is essential to help us understand the conditions at your child's school and guide improvement. The Illinois 5Essentials Survey is administered online by the University of Chicago, on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education. The state will provide survey results for individual schools only if a school has at least 30 percent of parents take the survey. If you have children attending more than one school, we ask that you complete the survey for each school. All survey responses will be kept confidential. To take the parent survey: 1. Visit Parent Survey. 2. Type DuPage as "County." 3. Type your school's name into the "School" field and select your school. The Illinois 5Essentials Survey identifies five indicators that can lead to important student outcomes, including test score gains. Research has shown that schools strong on these indicators are ten times more likely to improve student learning. The five indicators that effect school success are: Effective leaders Collaborative teachers Involved families Supportive environments Ambitious instruction 16 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. News from the DuPage Children’s Museum 17 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. Do We Have Your Updated Contact Information? We will emailed 2014 NAHC Dues invoices in February and followed up in March with some via “snail mail.” When e-mailing dues invoices a number bounced back due to bad addresses. With association officers changing, members moving, changing jobs, or switching to different Internet provider, our directory is in need of an update. Because we use a different mailing list for dues than we use for the newsletter, we are hoping every association is contacted via at least one of the two lists. Similarly, if there are members of your association board not receiving the newsletter, please send us their email! If you believe the contact information for your association is out of date, please go to our website, www.napervillehomeowners.com, download, and fill out an information sheet (member application) on your association. There is a “hotlink” on our homepage to the Membership Application document. This can also be used to send us a dues check if your association did not receive a dues invoice. Remember – the only way the Police, Fire Department, Park District, or even local realtors can get information on Naperville Associations is to ask the Confederation, We don’t provide this information except on request, so privacy should not be an issue. Thanks! We are always looking for new members – if you or your association would like to become part of the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation, please let us know. We will also be happy to send a Board member to one of your association meetings to talk about the Confederation and the roles we play within the greater Naperville Area to make this a great place to call home! 18 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. News from Naper Settlement www.napersettlement.museum 523 South Webster Street Naperville, Illinois 60540 (630) 420-6010 (630) 305-5255-fax Discover Naperville’s history through engaging and unique experiences at Naper Settlement, Chicagoland’s outdoor history museum, located in the heart of Naperville. Explore historic homes and businesses throughout the 12-acre site where you’ll understand the past and how it connects to the present. Preservation is a key component of the museum’s mission and Naper Settlement has a reference library and archival collection. Naper Settlement offers special events, such as All Hallows Eve, programs, classes, camps, architectural walks, group tours and school programs, and rental opportunities for meetings, weddings, parties and other social occasions. -0No foolin', April 1 is the traditional Opening Day at Naper Settlement and the start of the Summer Season. The buildings are open and our museum educators share stories of the past and how they relate to the present in our historic homes and working businesses like the Blacksmith Shop and Print Shop. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 am-4:00 pm and Sunday, 1:00-4:00 pm. Members are free and Naperville residents receive free general admission. For more details, check their website! -0Have you ever wanted to peek behind the scenes of a museum? "Flashback Friday: Meet A Curator" begins April 4 and takes place the first Friday of every month from 1 to 2 p.m. (except July 4), at Naper Settlement's Collections Care and Storage Facility, located in the Department of Public Works Building at Jefferson Avenue and Fort Hill Drive, Entrance C. Each month, explore a different part of the museum's collection. Hear about the curators' work and see real artifacts from the museum's collection of over 52,000 objects and learn about the stories behind these objects. Topics will range from furniture to textiles, archaeological objhects to recreational artifacts and more! For ages teen to adult. Tickets are $10. Call (630) 420-6010 for reservations as only 20 spots are available. For teens to adults. -0Naper Settlement headline bands for the Naper Nights Community Concert Series, where the History of Rock continues. Include returning favorites include Michael McDermott and the Duke Street Kings performing the music of Bruce Springsteen on Friday, June 20, and Beatles tribute band American English on Friday, Aug. 22, celebrating the 50 th anniversary of the Beatles taking America by storm with their performance on the Ed Sullivan Show. New acts include Mike and Joe, who will play the greatest pop and rock hits from the ’90s to today on Saturday, June 21; and Think Floyd will pay tribute to the music of Pink Floyd on Friday, July 25, including their breakthrough album, “Dark Side of the Moon,” in its entirety, other Floyd favorites and a custom light show with special effects. Other new bands this year include Arrival playing the hits, favorites and gems from Journey and friends on Saturday, July 26; and 16 Candles performing the music of the ’80s and ’90s on Saturday, Aug. 23. Naper Nights will be held Friday and Saturday evenings, June 20-21, July 25-26 and Aug. 22-23. April Events @ Naper Settlement Wednesday Walking Club - Wednesdays, April 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, 8-9 a.m. FREE! The Wednesday Walking Club is a great way to meet new friends and get some exercise outdoors. Get fit the old fashioned way! When it comes to outdoor activity, there is no better way than an active stroll around the beautiful 12-acre museum campus. Check in at the PreEmption House Visitor Center, then log your minutes (not miles). Registration is required to attend this free drop-in program. Earn reward tickets to Naper Settlement programs and events. Call (630) 420-6010 to register. 19 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. Weed Ladies Spring & Summer Sale - Thursday-Saturday, April 3-5, 10-4, Sunday, April 6, 1-4 pm Enjoy a glimpse of warmer weather to come at the Weed Ladies Spring and Summer Sale featuring their one-of-a-kind floral arrangements. This year, the Weed Ladies are celebrating their 45th anniversary of supporting educational programs and historic preservation at Naper Settlement. Admission to the sale is free Super Scout Sunday - Geocaching and Letterboxing - Sunday, April 13 Explore Naper Settlement’s grounds like never before! Grab a high-tech GPS unit and geocache to find hidden caches. Learn about coordinates so you can geocache on your own. Become a sleuth by solving riddles to find letterboxes. Make your own stamp, and practice your seeking skills around the Settlement. Open to both Girl Scouts and Boy Scout grades 2-5. Earns letterboxer brownie badge, geocacher Junior Badge. Food Revolution: How the Civil War Changed Food in America - Sunday, April 13 This presentation is given by Dr. Bruce Kraig, the founding President of Culinary Historians of Chicago. With a Ph.D. in History and Archaeology, Dr. Kraig is Professor Emeritus in History and Humanities at Roosevelt University, Chicago. An internationally recognized food historian, he has been host and writer for a series of award-winning food documentaries for PBS. Dr. Kraig has also appeared on ABC National News, Good Morning America, and BBC News. Dr. Kraig has written several cookbooks and his articles have appeared in the Chicago Tribune. Reservations recommended. Advance tickets: $6 adult, $5 student, youth and Naperville Heritage Society Sustaining members At the door: $7 adult, $6 student, youth and Naperville Heritage Society Sustaining members Naper Wine & Dine - Monday, April 28 Join the Naperville Heritage Society at the annual wine dinner, sponsored by Sullivan's Steakhouse. This wine dinner boasts a five-course meal paired with a hand-selected wine to enhance the flavors. A vegetarian menu is available. The evening's entertainment consists of a live auction featuring trips to Africa, Wente Winery and others. Cost: $175 per person with wine $125 per person dinner only, no wine RSVP by April 14. More details including menu, silent auction preview, and registration are at: http://napersettlement.museum/Calendar.aspx?EID=856&month=4&year=2014&day=28&calType=0 . . Park District Updates Stay connected with the Naperville Park District throughout the year by following them on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, LinkedIn and Park Talk Blog. Sign up for e-news by visiting their homepage at www.napervilleparks.org -0Springbrook Golf Course and Naperbrook Golf Course are open for play. Golf staff has prepared a full lineup of tournaments, lessons, leagues, family golf, with a special emphasis on introducing kids to the game of golf in the 2014 season. Kids 13 years of age and younger can participate in PGA Junior League play, which provides a fun, instructive Little League style of competition. Registration is now open for the PGA Junior Leagues, with practices beginning in April. Interested participants may register at either golf course. Younger children also will have new opportunities to experience golf this year, as golf summer camps are now available for kids ages 5 and up, while previously they were open only to kids age 7 and up. 20 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. Registration is now open for the first adult tournament of the season, the annual Partner Best Ball Challenge, held at Naperbrook Golf Course on April 12. Deadline to register is April 6. Registration for tournaments, www.golfnaperville.org. leagues, lessons or tee times is available online at -0The Naperville Park District is looking for community volunteers who are willing to put on rain boots, work gloves and warm jackets to help spruce up our parks. Corporate groups, scout troops, churches, high school environmental clubs, neighborhoods, families and other community groups are welcome to participate. Park maintenance tasks include litter pick up, weeding, mulching, removing twigs, and other activities. Some of the parks especially in need of assistance include the following: Name of Park Tasks Volunteers Needed Knoch Knolls Park Garlic Mustard removal Large group (15+) Springbrook Parkway Garlic Mustard removal Large group (15+) DuPage River Park Prairie seeding Any number Ashbury Park Litter picking around pond Any number Brighton Ridge Park Litter picking around pond Any number Brook Crossings Litter picking around pond Any number Clow Creek Greenway Litter picking around pond Any number Hobson West Ponds Litter picking around pond Any number Springbrook Crossings Summerfield Lake Tall Grass Lakes Wildflower Park Litter picking around pond Litter picking around pond Litter picking around pond Litter picking around pond Any number Any number Any number Any number Volunteers may register to help with any of the above projects or they can schedule a project at another park by contacting Lynnette Hoole at lhoole@napervilleparks.org or by calling her at 630-8483606. Volunteers who golf or enjoy being out on a golf course are needed to assist golf staff in repairing our golf fairways and greens. Two-hour sessions are scheduled for the first Monday and Tuesday mornings of the month during April, May, and June at Springbrook and Naperbrook Golf Courses. Interested volunteers may register for this project online at http://www.napervilleparks.org/volunteerwith-the-naperville-park-district. -0High school student rock bands are invited to apply for a spot in the Naperville Park District Youth Ambassadors’ eleventh annual Battle of the Bands contest. The event will take place from 4:30-8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 9 at the Community Concert Center in Central Park, located at 104 E. Benton. Applications and a demo CD or flash drive must be received by 4:00 p.m. Monday, April 21, 2014 to be considered. The application form can be accessed online at http://www.napervilleparks.org/battleofthebands. Bands can mail or drop off their entries to Fred Gusel at the Naperville Park District Administration Building in downtown Naperville. The mailing address is: Fred Gusel Naperville Park District 320 West Jackson Ave. Naperville, IL 60540 21 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. Applicants will be notified on or before April 25, 2014 about whether their band has been selected as a finalist for the 2014 Battle of the Bands. The first place winner will perform at Ribfest at a time to be determined and will advance to the Illinois Park District Association’s Regional Battle of the Bands with a chance to perform at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. The second and third place finishers will play at the Naperville Park District’s Rollin’ on the River series on the Riverwalk in July. The Youth Ambassadors is a group of high school students who work with the Naperville Park District to plan communitywide special events for teens each year. For questions about Youth Ambassadors or about the Naperville Park District and its programs and facilities, please visit www.napervilleparks.org. -0The 29th annual Jaycees Egg Hunt takes place at Frontier Sports Complex Saturday, April 19 at 9:00 a.m. sharp. This event is free and open to ages 1-8, with no registration required. Parents are advised to arrive early, as the eggs disappear quickly. The Park District is offering two additional egg hunt events: the first is the Flashlight Egg Hunt for kids ages 9-13 and the second is the Spring Egg-stravaganza for preschoolers ages 2-5. The Flashlight Egg Hunt takes place the evening of Thursday, April 17 at Rotary Hill at the base of the Carillon along the Riverwalk. Pre-Registration is required for the Flashlight Egg Hunt. Participants need to bring a flashlight and a basket for the eggs. Refreshments will be provided. The Spring Egg-stravaganza will be held on Saturday, April 12 at Seager Interpretive Center, located at 1163 Plank Road. Pre-Registration is required for the Spring Egg-stravaganza. The event includes games, stories, crafts, snacks, and an egg hunt. -0The Naperville Park District’s Green Team recently completed its 2013 Sustainability Report, which is available online at http://www.napervilleparks.org/greeninitiatives. The report summarizes initiatives that are reducing the District’s environmental impact and operational costs in the following five areas: Purchasing environmentally responsible products Protecting natural resources Conserving energy Reducing and managing waste Furthering environmental education Highlights of 2013 Sustainability Initiatives Some of the environmental initiatives are clearly visible, such as the construction of Knoch Knolls Nature Center. Others are not as obvious, but still very impactful. For example, in 2011 the District installed a 10,000 gallon cistern at Knoch Park, which is located underground just north of the playground. Over the past two years the cistern collected more than 400,000 gallons of water which was used to supplement potable water for irrigating athletic fields. As a result, the Park District saved over $2,700 in water and wastewater costs. 22 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. With a steady demand for athletic fields, tennis courts and basketball courts, the Park District relies on sports lighting to extend the hours available at these facilities. Thanks to upgraded technology, sports lighting is now more energy efficient than in past years, with flexible controls that allow for additional energy and cost savings. Through new push button controls for the tennis and basketball court lights at Nike Sports Complex and other locations, in 2013 the District saved 118,373 kilowatt hours in electricity, equivalent to $10,654 in cost savings. The District realized additional energy and cost savings through the cumulative effect of upgrades in lighting fixtures and controls at the Administration Building. The 2012-2013 savings totaled 16,621 kilowatt hours and $4,564. The Park District continued its extensive annual maintenance of natural areas in 2013, managing 46,890 lineal feet of naturalized basin shoreline, 329 acres of woodland, conducting controlled burns of more than 75 acres of prairie, wetland, and other natural areas and planting 430 trees. More than 500 community volunteers helped with natural area maintenance, garden plot gleaning, planting and other tasks in 2013. Volunteers from neighborhoods, schools, corporations, churches, and other community organizations, lent valuable assistance and gained a better understanding of what it takes to restore and maintain the parks and open spaces that make our community beautiful. The estimated value of the park volunteers’ time is $11,070 in 2013, according to Independent Sector. The Park District partners with other organizations to involve the community in worthwhile initiatives. In the summer, the District partnered with Waste Management to offer small electronics recycling at several facilities. From November 18, 2013 through March 15, 2014, the District held a holiday light recycling collection in partnership with Elgin Recycling. More than 1,176 pounds of nonworking lights were collected for recycling, keeping them out of landfills. The District’s cash rebates from recycling will help purchase educational items for the Knoch Knolls Nature Center. Library News For more information go to http://www.naperville-lib.org service) and Sunday). Sunday, April Remember that the Nichols Library and 95th Steet Library are now open until 9:00 PM on Sunday evenings. Drive-up returns for all materials are available 24 hours a day at all buildings. Materials may also be renewed by calling 630.961.0460. The Library Catalog, http://www.naperville-lib.org is available 24/7 for you to download or renew materials. -0All Library locations will be closed on Friday, April 11th (Staff In20th (Easter Upcoming Program Highlights from the Naperville Public Library Slaying Dragons and Poetry = Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at 6:30 PM -- Nichols Library Celebrate National Poetry Month with the Naperville Writer’'s Group. Poets, writers and those who to read can enjoy keynote speaker, Sandra Marchetti, author of a collection of poems, "Confluence," and Elmhurst College writing teacher. Poet Ray Simon, past president of the Naperville Writer’'s Group, will moderate the event. In addition to the featured readers, members of the Naperville Writer’'s Group and local poets will share their poetry. This program is presented in partnership with the Naperville Writer’s Group.. 23 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. Financial Analysis @ Your Library - Monday, April 07, 2014 at 6:30 PM -- 95th Street Library, Brian Ahern, Weiss Financial Ratings Series. Learn how to determine the financial stability of a Bank, Credit Union, Life or Property Insurance Company, Mutual Fund or even Medigap Insurance. The library online resource, Financial Ratings Series Online, provides accurate, independent ratings and financial planning tools you need to make informed decisions about financial institutions. This is a Money Smart Week Program. Readers' Night Out - Monday, April 07, 2014 at 7:00 PM -- Join us for a night of socializing with other readers! Meet us at Quigley's Irish Pub located at 43 E. Jefferson Ave. in downtown Naperville and share a book that you have recently finished reading, or even just a book that you love! Make it an evening and come at 6:15 p.m. to purchase dinner. Or join us just to talk about books, starting at 7:00 p.m. Program requires advanced registration at http://calendar.napervillelib.org/evanced/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=25457 How To Bridge The Retirement Gap - Tuesday, April 08, 2014 at 6:30 PM -- 95th Street Library Laura LaBelle, LFE Institute - The Federal Reserve estimates there's a $6.6 trillion gap between what future retirees will have and the amount they'll need during retirement. Whether you are two months or 20 years from retirement, this workshop will help you learn specific, concrete strategies to bridge the retirement gap...to live on less, but enjoy it more! This is a Money Smart Week program. The Long Road To Victory - Wednesday, April 09, 2014 at 7:00 PM -- 95th Street Library The Story of the Woman Suffrage Movement - Annette Baldwin's portrayals of influential and unconventional women have been performed in nearly 200 cities across the U.S. Her first person monologues are presented in Chautauqua style, with an in-character question and answer period following the monologue. In this presentation Annette portrays five women, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul and Carrie Chapman Catt, telling their story and importance in history during the Woman Suffrage Movement. This program is partially funded by a grant from the City of Naperville. The ABC's Of Buying A Home - Thursday, April 10, 2014 at 6:30 PM -- Nichols Library Monika Tkaczyck, Mortgage Consultant, 1st Advantage Mortgage - This workshop provides an excellent overview of the home buying process. The topics include household budgeting, building credit, tips on improving credit scores, home loan financing options and down payment assistance programs. Learn about the importance of selecting the right team (realtor, inspector, attorney and lender), and the roles they play in the process (including home search, contract negotiation and closing). This is a Money Smart Week program. Honest Abe And His Artifacts - Monday, April 14, 2014 at 7:00 PM -- 95th Street Library - David Becker, retired teacher, actor and Lincoln scholar presents an inspirational and interactive one man play, on the anniversary of Lincoln's night at Ford's Theatre. Becker will portray Abe Lincoln and tell his story before that fateful night at the theatre. All attendees will receive an uncirculated 2009 Lincoln Rail Splitter Penny. This program is partially funded by a grant from the City of Naperville. e-Book Workshop: Download With A Kindle.- Come learn how to download free library books to your device. The library has over 7,000 e-books in our digital collection for Kindle and Kindle Fire users. Bring in your device and we will show you how to download from our virtual library. Nichols Library, 4/19/2014; 1:30 – 2:30 PM For more information and to register http://calendar.napervillelib.org/evanced/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=25464. e-Book Workshop: Download With An iPad Or Android Tablet - Come learn how to download free library books to your device. The library has over 7,000 e-books in our digital collection which you can check out. Compatible devices include iPads, iPhones, Nook Color, Nook Tablet, and all Android or Windows based tablets and phones. Bring in your device and we will show you how to download from our virtual library. Nichols Library, 4/19/2014; 3:00 PM. For more information and to register go to http://calendar.naperville-lib.org/evanced/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=25465 Career Readiness Before College: Linking Majors To Promising Careers - Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 7:00 PM -- Nichols Library - Career Vision - College is too important and too expensive to 24 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters. have your child "meander" through it! Entering college with an exciting career direction and choosing the right major contributes to students' happiness, success and graduating on time. Learn why early career exploration is not only crucial but fun, as well as the steps to take even BEFORE you begin looking at colleges. The tragedy at the Loomis Street Crossing - Friday, April 25, 2014 at 7:00 PM -Nichols Library - It has been 68 years since the Naperville tragic train accident that took the lives of 45 people. It was the worst disaster in the history of the Burlington Railroad. Chuck Spinner, author of “The Tragedy a the Loomis Street Crossing," spent five years researching the stories of 45 passengers who lost their lives on that day, interviewing eye witnesses and talking with rescue works and injured passengers. His book prompted the forming of a committee that worked with the Century Walk organization toward the creating of a memorial called "Tragedy to Triumph," created by Paul Kuhn. The statue will be dedicated at 1:00 p.m. at the Naperville Train Station on Saturday, April 26. Chamber Music At The Library - Friday, April 25, 2014 at 7:30 PM -- 95th Street Library DuPage Symphony Orchestra String Ensemble - Join a select ensemble of DuPage Symphony Orchestra string instrumentalists for a free fun-filled evening of chamber music. This informal performance includes an engaging question-and-answer session and opportunities to talk with the musicians following the performance. The next Confederation General Membership meeting will be on Monday evening, April 21st at 6:30 PM (for snacks and networking, meeting at 7:00) at the 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr Until then, keep an eye on www.napervillehomeowners.com for late-breaking news and information Our next Newsletter will be sent out on or about May 1st Thanks for reading! Bob Fischer President – NAHC When You Find Us, Make sure to “Like” Us too!!!!! 25 The NAHC Monthly Newsletter is a tool for communicating to and within our member associations. Please feel free to reproduce any newsletter content in your own Association newsletters.